Monday, 14 April 2014

Welcome Lyrical Press author, Kristina Mathews...

Guest Interview 4

1)What is the best and worse thing you have learned from an
editor/agent?

The best thing I’ve learned from my editor
is how to improve my writing. It’s the little things that can make a big
difference. The worst thing I’ve learned is how much grammar I’ve forgotten.
Some of my edits come back and I cringe because I should know better.

2)What is your typical day?

A typical day? Wow, I’m almost afraid to
think about it. I usually wake up between five and six. Sometimes I lay in bed
thinking about a particular scene, and waiting for the sun to come up. I
usually get coffee and check my e-mail first thing in the morning. I’m on West
Coast time, so I often have messages from my editor or publisher. Sometimes I
can get a few words in, or work on edits while my kids get ready for school. I
drop them off and then have about 15-20 minutes before I start my shift as yard
duty at the elementary school. I can get a lot done in that short period of
time sitting in my car. I got most of this interview written while sipping
coffee and waiting for my alarm to go off.

I do everything from yard supervision,
parent drop-off/pickup (or as I call it, project inspection and smile
distribution), I work with reading groups, one-on-one with Kindergarteners,
special education students in small groups or one-on-one.

When I get home, I spend about a half hour
catching up on social media. It’s my way of switching gears from school to
writing mode. I get a little writing in before dinner, but most of my creative
work is done at night before bed. I try to get 1,000-2,000 words a day in. Some
days I write a little less and some days I can get up to 5,000 words. Those are
usually weekends when my family is off skiing or fishing.

3)What do you read while in the midst of a project? Or don’t you?

I usually read something in my genre or
from a favorite author of mine. I read in the tub. It’s about the only place
where I’m not interrupted. Somehow sitting at my computer with earphones on
screams “come talk to me” to my family.

4)What
do you do with a paperback once you’ve read it?

I
keep them. Almost all of them. That’s why my husband bought me a Kindle for
Mother’s Day a few years ago.

5)Are
you nervous about friends reading your book?

A little. But at this point
it’s too late. My book is already out there.

6)What
things inspire you to write? Location, music, film or even in a book?

Sometimes it’s events that happen in real
life. Better Than Perfect was
inspired by my love of baseball, my dislike of sports scandals, and my husband’s
nickname as a kid. His older cousin Mike was travelling with them one summer
and he teased my husband, saying he wasn’t really a Mathews, but his real name
was Johnny Scottsdale. It made him cry, and he’s had the nickname ever since. I
thought it would be a great name for a hero, and a good way to get back at his
cousin.

7)What’s next for you?

My second book, Worth The Trade is coming out in July. I’m working on books three
and four in the series. I also have a series I started when I was first
learning the craft of writing that I’d like to revisit, it features whitewater
raft guides as the heroes (and one heroine).

The woman he left behind and the son he never knew are
tougher opponents than any he’s met on the field.

Pitcher Johnny “The Monk” Scottsdale has won awards, been
named an All-star and has a perfect game to his credit. Known for his legendary
control both on and off the field, his pristine public image makes him the
ideal person to work with youth players in a preseason minicamp. Except the
camp is run by the one woman he can’t forget…the woman who made him a “monk.”

Alice Harrison’s three strikes include an unexpected
pregnancy, a marriage of convenience and young widowhood. She once traded her
dreams so Johnny could have a chance at making it to the Majors. Johnny comes
back into her life just as she’s ready to resign as foundation director and
pursue her own dreams of finally earning her teaching credential. Her plans may
go on hold, though, depending on the reaction when she confesses she may have
kept a major league secret from Johnny and her son.

With the minutes ticking by until Johnny will leave for
spring training, they’ll need to let go of the past and work together in order
to win the game of love.

CONTENT WARNING: Some strong language, consummated love
scenes

EXCERPT

“Yeah, the kid’s kind of growing
on me.” Johnny sounded surprised. But pleased. “I thought it would be hard to
be around him. Since he’s…Mel’s. But, he’s such a great kid.”

The lump in her throat grew. She
should tell him. Now. Before she lost her nerve.

He stepped toward her. “You have
mascara, here.”

He reached out and wiped the
smudge under her left eye. Her lashes automatically fluttered closed at his
touch. A sigh escaped her lips, an instant before he captured her mouth with
his.

He pulled her closer. Closer.
Kissing her like they’d been apart for merely a two-week road trip, not
fourteen years. His hands wove through her hair. Moved down her back. She
leaned against him. She could feel him, his need pressing against her belly.
Her insides dissolved. Longing filled her. Powerful. Uncontrolled.

“Ali…” His breath was ragged, heavy with desire. “Oh, Ali.”

She was about to surrender
completely, when she heard the toilet flush upstairs.

Zach.

“Johnny. Wait.” She pushed him
away. Smoothed her blouse. Her hair. “Zach’s upstairs. He could come down any
minute.”

“Right. Zach.” Johnny stepped
back and her heart gave a small whimper. “I should go.”

“Johnny, please… Stay.” They
needed to talk. She needed to tell him the truth. Or what could be the truth
about Zach.

“I really need to go.” His eyes
rested on the formal family portrait. He didn’t need to tell her any more. He
wasn’t ready for a family.

AUTHOR Bio and
Links:

Kristina Mathews doesn't
remember a time when she didn't have a book in her hand. Or in her head. But it
wasn't until 2010 that she confessed the reason the laundry never made it out
of the dryer was because she was busy writing romance novels.

While she resigned from
teaching with the arrival of her second son, she's remained an educator in some
form. As a volunteer, Parent Club member or para educator, she finds the most
satisfaction working with emergent and developing readers, helping foster
confidence and a lifelong love of books.

Kristina lives in Northern
California with her husband of twenty years, two sons and a black lab. A
veteran road tripper, amateur renovator and sports fanatic. She hopes to one
day travel all 3,073 miles of Highway 50 from Sacramento, CA to Ocean City, MD,
replace her carpet with hardwood floors and serve as a “Ball Dudette” for the
San Francisco Giants.

Kristina will be awarding a $10 Amazon GC plus a
digital copy of the book to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and a
$10 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn host. Encourage your readers to follow
the tour and comment; the more they comment, the better their chances of
winning. The tour dates can be found here: